Eric Draitser is an independent geopolitical analyst based in New York City and the founder of StopImperialism.com. He is a regular contributor to RT, Counterpunch, New Eastern Outlook, Press TV, and many other news outlets. Visit StopImperialism.com for all his work.

The US is not interested in proper investigation into Sony hack as it uses this issue as a political weapon, geopolitical analyst Eric Draitser told RT, adding that sanctions against North Korea will not affect it much as the country is already isolated.

The sanctions were announced on Friday after the FBI and the
White House concluded North Korea was responsible for the massive
computer intrusion the networks of Sony Pictures Entertainment
suffered in late November. Terabytes of stolen data have since
made its way to the web, embarrassing the Hollywood firm, and
online threats concerning the scheduled Christmas Eve release of
“The Interview,” an anti-Kim comedy, that still failed to keep
the film from being screened. North Korea, however, rejected the
accusations and proposed a joint investigation with the United
States into the hack attack.

RT: Why is Washington so sure they are
punishing the right side?

Eric Draitser: There is no hard evidence for the
United States’ claims that the North Korea was behind the hack on
Sony. In fact, the evidence seems to point in a very different
direction. Reports in US and global media say experts taking part
in the investigation essentially rule out North Korea’s
participation. They say the evidence simply isn’t there to point
that finger.

Moreover, those very same experts point out that due to the
complexity of the cyberattack it is not quite possible to
determine who was behind it in mere 48 or 72 hours as was the
case with the US government. Rather than seeing the evidence and
drawing conclusions from that, it seems that Washington is
pursuing a political agenda and using this issue to further that
agenda.

RT: Pyongyang has offered help in
investigating the attack, but the offer was turned down. Why
so?

ED: The US has declined North Korea’s offer for
the same reason that the US has turned down Russia’s offer with
regard to investigating the crash of MH17 flight in Eastern
Ukraine.

It is because, number one, it will expose before the world the
fact that the United States turned this incident into a political
weapon. Secondly, it could expose who was behind the attack and
whether or not we can trace it back to Washington, or to a US
ally, or to US client, or to some other entity.

There is obviously information that the United States are looking
to squash any independent investigation into this. And I think
that’s yet another reason why the US is pushing for sanctions,
why the US is turning this into a large global political issue
rather than a very specific incident – which is what it is.

RT: Will the new sanctions hurt?

ED: Not necessarily. North Korea’s economic
situation and model is not quite the one plugged into global
capitalism in the way that almost every other country around the
world is. And so in many ways North Korea, being as isolated as
it is, is to a large extent sanctions-proof at least – to
whatever degree a country could be so. So in that regard I don’t
think we’ll see a huge material change for the country.

What we will see is political fallout, because, certainly, North
Korea, being as small and diplomatically isolated as it is, can’t
do anything on its own. Still North Korea has moved forward and
made tremendous progress in cultivating relations with both China
and Russia. And cyber security has been one of those major issues
that have been put on the agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization. So it could be possible that the fallout from this
will have a positive impact on global cyber security.

RT: What should we now expect from
Pyongyang?

ED:
Certainly, North Korea will follow the pattern of ratcheting up
the rhetoric, of making belligerent and bellicose statements to
whatever extent they can. But this is, essentially, part for the
course for North Korea. I think they will lean on international
relationships to whatever extent they can, but as we know, the
global situation in many ways is like a school yard and the
United States is able to play the part of the bully. It is in a
very rare circumstance that a bully can be truly punched in the
nose.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.